2021/22 Season Report Card - Joe Gomez

I feel sorry for Joe. He’s hardly been able to get any playing time in his favoured position in the centre alongside Virgil. Remember how good he was in the title winning season when he had an extended run there? He looked like he was on the brink of becoming world class.

Since then injuries have completely stunted his growth as a player. He was fit for most of the season but he couldn’t get back in because Joel suddenly turned into freaking Iron Man and never missed a game. In previous seasons there would always be opportunities for games alongside Virgil because none of the others could ever stay for any length of time. Now none of them ever get injured.

Gomez has been the odd one out, only really getting his opportunity in the cup games. He did ok. Generally he’d look really good but then he’d throw in a mistake or lose concentration. It happens when you don’t have rhythm but the form (and availability) of the other centre backs meant he was fourth choice with very limited opportunities. It must have been really hard for him and I’d be amazed if he hadn’t considered leaving this summer. He’s lost his England spot to bums who aren’t in the same league as him. Look at who England have been picking at centre half in recent years. Maguire, Coady, Keane, that Ben White loser and even Tyrone Mings!!! That’s got to be really hard to take when you’re as good as Joe.

It’s to his absolute credit though that he didn’t sulk and when he was asked to fill in at right back, a position he can play but not particularly effectively, he knuckled down and did a job for the team. I’ve never been a fan of Gomez at full back, simply because of the way we play. In any other era he’d be a fine right back, but the position is vastly different now because of how Klopp wants his team to play. When Trent isn’t there we lose so much because there’s no-one else like him. 

At least if you have another attack minded player there you can replicate some of those things. Gomez though has always looked like a centre back being asked to do something he’s not particularly good at. Until recently. He was actually really good and he must have been putting in a lot of work on that side of his game, because his crossing was very impressive and he just seemed really positive and aggressive going forward. 

He had a couple of assists with boss crosses in and he was generally purposeful and direct when he had the chance to attack.

I thought that this summer we’d need to sign a back up for Trent (assuming Neco leaves) but I’ve changed my mind. I’m more than happy for Gomez to be the understudy to Trent while still fighting for his place in the middle. He might not even get to do that now depending on how good the young Scottish kid turns out to be, but we need to find a way to get minutes for Gomez as he's too good to lose.

Whether that’s enough for him I don’t know. From what I've been told he does not want to leave and he's wanting to sign a new contract, which would be great news. I hope we can sort that because you just don’t want to lose a player of his age and talent. How we get him the game time he deserves though is something Klopp needs to figure out.

Previous Season Ratings:

2020/21:   Season doesn’t count

2019/20:   8/10

2018/19:   9/10

2017/18:   7/10 

This Season’s Rating: 7/10

Good when he played, he just didn't get to play very often due to circumstances beyond his control.

Best Moment: 

The assist for Jota against Watford. Jota told him before the game he was going to create a goal for him and he was right.

Worst Moment:

Poor first half against Leicester in the cup.

The Future?

Hopefully a new contract, more playing time and the opportunity to show everyone just how good he is again.